Dice game and method

ABSTRACT

The invention is a game that preferably comprises a gameboard and twenty-one (21) twelve-sided (dodecahedron) dice that feature the notes of the chromatic scale. The game may be played with one to four people and lasts an average of 15 to 30 minutes. An unlimited number of players may be added and the game may be prolonged by adding more dice. It is believed that such method and the corresponding game apparatus provide a highly entertaining, strategic, and fast-paced game which incorporates a unique blend of chance, strategy, and skill.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application61/231,547, filed Aug. 5, 2009, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of games, and morespecifically, concerns a game involving a multiplicity of dice and a setof game instructions and rules of play. The game includes a gameboardand musician's dice. The invention contemplates both the method ofplaying the game and the apparatus for doing so. The method is embodiedin the game instructions and rules of play.

Dice games and games of chance are well known in the prior art. In themethod of play of most of these games, several six-sided cubical diceare thrown or rolled simultaneously, with the result being eitherpositive or negative as dictated by the particular rules of such games.

The present invention is a game that preferably comprises a gameboardand twenty-one (21) twelve-sided (dodecahedron) dice that feature thenotes of the chromatic scale. The game may be played with one to fourpeople and lasts an average of 15 to 30 minutes. An unlimited number ofplayers may be added and the game may be prolonged by adding more dice.Additionally, players may form teams, which allows musical novices tolearn more from their experienced partners. A familiarity with musicalscales, intervals, and basic triad construction is necessary to play thedice game of the present invention. It is believed that such method andthe corresponding game apparatus provide a highly entertaining,strategic, and fast-paced game which incorporates a unique blend ofchance, strategy, and skill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a gameapparatus and method of play having a unique blend of strategy, andskill and which can be enjoyed by players of all ages.

An embodiment of the invention provides a method of playing a strategicdice game comprising: (a) providing from 21 individual dodecahedron dicehaving musical pitches on substantially all flat surfaces, each diebeing marked on its surfaces with the same musical pitches as each otherdice, (b) establishing an order of serial play for a selected number ofplayers by any convenient selection method, (c) each player then rollingin turn a single die, and placing the die on a game board, such that theplacement of the die constructs a scale or triad.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus forplaying the dice game of the invention wherein the apparatus comprises ahexagonal-shaped game board and twenty one (21) dodecahedron dice.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become clearupon review of the following detailed description in conjunction withthe appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts the twelve (12) sides of a musician's dice in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B depicts a game board in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B building of the scales in accordance with embodiments ofthe invention.

FIGS. 3A to 3D shows portions of various major scales in accordance withembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a completed scale in the key of Eb in accordance withembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a moot scale in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 depicts triad building in accordance with embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 7 depicts the building of a triad in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 8 depicts the building of a triad in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIGS. 9A to 9D depict the scoring system in accordance with embodimentsof the invention.

FIG. 10 depicts a scoring sheet in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of theinvention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to beunderstood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the inventionpresented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which inconnection with the following description and the accompanying drawingsone skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and constructionof the invention.

The claimed invention is directed to a game system, game apparatus andmethod of play of a game designed to be played by one or more players inwhich described broadly the ultimate goal of each player is to achievethe highest score while intertwining triads with scales like a three-waymusical crossword puzzle. In an embodiment of the invention, triads arebuilt vertically and scales are built diagonally. Points are earned asplayers add to or complete triads and scales. Scores can be doubled andtrebled when dice are played in specially marked cells on the gameboard. The game is completed when all of the dice are played afterwhich, the points are then tallied, and the player or team with the mostpoints is the winner.

The claimed invention is directed to a crossword-style game of musictheory wherein players interlace 12-sided musical dice to form scalesand triads on a game board shaped like a honeycomb, forming unique tonalweaves.

Also provided for use with the preferred embodiment of the game, aretwenty-one (21) dice (U.S. Pat. No. D576,687). Although each of the dicemay be of any shape, size, and color, preferably they are twelve-sideddodecahedron dice wherein each side displays a note of a musical scale.FIG. 1A depicts each of the twelve faces of a dodecahedron die inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1B depicts ahexagonal-shaped game board in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a scale is made up of 8notes. The 8 notes are C, D, E, F, G, A and B. Other notes that arecommonly used are flats “b” and sharps “#” for each musical note.Examples of flat notes include Ab, Bb, Db, Eb and Gb. Examples of sharpnotes include A#, C#, D#, F# and G#.

In music and music theory, a triad is a three-note chord that can bestacked in thirds. The root tone of a triad, together with the degree ofthe scale to which it corresponds, primarily determine a given triad'sfunction.

While such game system and method is described below with reference toplay of a board game, the present inventor has contemplated that suchbasic game system and method as described above can be applied in avariety of different game types and environments, including but notlimited to electronic games including portable electronic games,computer games, video games, online and Internet games, I-Padapplications, smart phone applications and the like.

In an embodiment of the invention, a scorekeeper is appointed before thegame is begun. Before play begins, each player draws a die from pilecomprising at least twenty-one (21) dice. The player rolls the dieleaving it face up in front of them. The player who rolls the pitchclosest to the note A becomes the first participant in the ensuing game.In the case of a tie—such as when one player rolls an F# and the otherrolls a C (both notes are a minor third from A)—the tied players keeprolling their dice until the tie is broken.

Once the person who plays first has been determined, all players returntheir dice to the pile except for the first player. That person—“Player1”—rolls their die again and places it in the center of the game boardmarked “C” (FIG. 1B). The “opening roll” by Player 1 provides a place tostart the game.

Play moves around the board clockwise, beginning with Player 1. Theeffect of this is that Player 1 rolls twice at the game's start, oncefor the “opening roll” and once again for their actual turn.

In an embodiment of the invention, each player's turn involves rolling asingle die, which they try to add to the game, either as part of a triador part of a scale. If they're successful, they score and their turnends. The number of dice that directly engage with the die they addeddetermines the number of points they get.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a player tries to addtheir die as part of a scale or a part of a triad. If a player cannotsee a way to add their roll to the game, they “pass” their turn andslide their die—leaving the same face up—to the next player. The nextplayer then has a chance to play that die (in case the player who passedmissed a possibility). If they are indeed able to play the die passed tothem, they do so and score. They then draw another die and roll again.In essence, playing a passed die gives a player an extra turn. If theycannot play the die passed to them, they simply re-roll and take theirturn as usual.

In an embodiment of the invention, each player's turn generally involvesa single roll of a single die. There are two exceptions to this. In anembodiment of the invention, a player receives an extra turn if theplayer adds a die that completes a triad i.e., they add to its thirdnote. In such a case, the player draws another die from the pile androlls again. In an additional embodiment of the invention, a playerreceives an extra turn if they complete a scale i.e., they add to itsseventh note.

In an embodiment of the invention, a single played die that completesboth a triad and a scale earns one extra turn. Extra turns can generateadditional extra turns if they result in additional completed triadsand/or scales. In other words, completing a triad and/or scale alwaysearns a single extra turn, and this can happen multiple times.

In an embodiment of the invention, each player's turn begins in one oftwo ways: they have a die passed to them, which they may play orre-roll, or the player before them has scored and they must draw androll a new die. In either case, they try to add their die to the game.If they can, they score; if they can't, they pass their die to the nextplayer. When a player completes a triad and/or scale, they get an extraturn. This continues until all the dice are played, at which time thegame ends, the points are tallied, and the winner is decided.

In an embodiment of the invention, the game of the invention may beplayed on an electronic platform such as a computer game, video game ora smart phone application.

In an embodiment of the invention, the scale used in the game of theinvention is the diatonic major scale: do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do.Scales in the game can be built on either of the two diagonals on thegame board; they must, however, climb upward in position—toward the topof the game board—as they climb in pitch (FIGS. 2A and 2B). In otherwords, scales can ascend from left to right, or from right to left; butas the pitches in the scale get higher, so must the dice themselves gethigher in terms of their position on the board. An easy way to rememberthis is to think of notes on a musical staff or ladder: the higher thepitch, the higher up on the staff or ladder they go.

In the course of play, dice may be added to either end of a scalefragment. If, for instance, the dice A and B are diagonallyadjacent—with B to the upper right of A—a C or C# could be added to thefragment's upper right; A, B, C could be part of a C or a G Major scale(FIG. 3A); A, B, C# could be part of a D Major, E Major, or A Majorscale (FIG. 3B). Alternately, a G# or a G could be added to the lowerleft of our fragment; G#, A, B could be part of an A Major or E Majorscale (FIG. 3C); G, A, B could be part of a G Major or C Major scale(FIG. 3D).

Once a fragment builds out to seven notes, however, that scale isconsidered complete: no more notes may be added to it on either end.This is known as the Maximum Horizontality Rule. FIG. 4 depicts acompleted scale in the key of Eb. The fact that there are seven notesmakes this scale complete.

In an embodiment of the invention, the construction of a scale or atriad inhibits the further development of another. For example, FIG. 5demonstrates a moot scale where A, B is prevented from expanding upwardby another scale that developed after it has begun. In other embodimentsof the invention, scales become moot by running into the edge of thegame board.

In an embodiment of the invention, triads are built vertically and inroot position, and are limited to the types found in major scales:major, minor, and diminished. On the game board, they must build upwardin pitch from bottom to top: the higher notes go above the lower ones,as on a musical staff. Triads or potential triads can be formed byadding notes either above or below dice already in play.

The possibilities are many when beginning to build a triad from a singlenote. If, for example, there is a lone C on the game board, a playercould place an Eb or an E above it; they could also place an A or an Abbelow it. Each of those combinations is on the way to forming anacceptable triad. FIG. 6 depicts the nine legal potential triads thatcan be built from a lone C. From left to right, they are C Major, CMinor, C Diminished; Ab Major, A Minor, A Diminished; and F Major, FMinor, and F# (or Gb) Diminished. All of the listed triads are in rootposition.

As previously described, scales can be initiated on the game board evenif there's no possibility of them ever expanding beyond their first twonotes i.e., there is no worry about having enough room for them toexpand out to their full, seven-note potential. However, this is not thecase with triads: a triad cannot be begun if there is no room to finishit. In other words, a triad cannot be begun to be built so close to theedge of the game board that there's no way it could ever be completed;nor can a triad be begun somewhere on the game board where dice that arealready in play will prevent it from ever being fully realized.

The easiest way to make sure that a player is beginning a legal triad isto imagine it complete. If a player wishes to begin a triad by placingan Eb over a C, the player needs to ask if there is room for a G or anF# to later be placed above? Or for an A or an Ab to later be placedbelow? If the answer is yes to any of those questions, then thepotential triad indeed has potential: it is legal. If the answer to allof those questions is no, i.e., if there is never going to be a way tocomplete the triad without invalidating another scale or triad orbreaking a rule, then there is no potential triad, and the die may notbe placed. FIG. 7 depicts a situation in the game of the invention wherea trial cannot be initiated by placing a note above the C; the triadcannot be expanded further upward because of the edge of the board, norexpanded downward without breaking the Maximum Verticality Rule(discussed below).

In an embodiment of the invention, it is legal to clock the potential ofa triad after it has been initiated. In FIG. 8, playing the B is legal,even though it will block the formation of the triad below it. Triadsthat have been cut off in such a way are called moot triads, i.e., theystarted out with potential, but were rendered moot by later activity.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, once a triad has beencompleted—once it includes three dice—no more dice may be added to it oneither end. There can never be more than three dice in a row stackedvertically anywhere in the game, unless they are separated by an emptycell. This is known as the Maximum Verticality Rule.

In an embodiment of the invention, when a player adds a die to the game,they receive one point for all of the dice directly engaged with theiraddition: each whole or partial triad or scale that their die isdirectly a part of is counted. The die they play is also worth a point.A single die is never worth more than one point, even if it functions inmore than one way.

When the die a player adds to the game is placed in a specially-markedcell, i.e., in one of the cells marked with a 2 or a 3—the total pointsgarnered by that addition are doubled or tripled accordingly. Thespecially-marked cells only have an effect when they are firstplayed—later additions to triads and scales that contain them do notearn double or treble scores.

The score is calculated by counting up all of the dice directly engagedwith the die played, including the played die itself. If the die playedis in a specially-marked cell, double or triple the total pointsgarnered by the addition accordingly. No die should be counted more thanonce in accordance with the rules of the game of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 9A, playing the C garners two points: one for the Citself, and one for the Ab it directly engages. The G and F are notcounted, as they are not directly engaged with the die played, i.e., the“C”. In FIG. 9B, playing the Ab garners four points: one for the Abitself and three points for the two scales it engages. In FIG. 9C,playing the A garners seven points: one for the A itself, four more forthe two scales it engages, and two more for the triad it both engagesand completes. In FIG. 9D, playing the Ab over a “2” specially-markedcell would earn 4 points doubled, i.e., 8 points. Playing the Ab over a“3” specially-marked cell would earn a treble score of 12.

In an embodiment of the invention, keeping score is accomplished on asheet of lined paper. As shown in FIG. 10, the sheet is divided intocolumns for each player. The score for each turn is recorded on a singleline, keeping running totals for each player. If a player gets more thanone roll during their turn—by completing triads or scales—the pointsfrom their extra rolls are included on the same line as their initialroll. If a player can't play their roll and passes the die to the nextplayer, this is indicated by a horizontal arrow as shown in FIG. 10.

In an embodiment of the invention, the completed triads and scales onthe game board can be played as a musical composition using a suitablemusical instrument.

In an embodiment of the invention, the game of the invention is playedin an electronic format such as a video game, computer game or a smartphone application. In this embodiment, a player plays the game inaccordance with the rules as described above by placing a die in a cell.In an embodiment of the invention, the player is able to hear the pitchof the note representing the die placed in the cell in the electronicformat of the game. In accordance with the rules, the player adds hisscore at the end of the game. Optionally, in the electronic format, thecompleted triads and scales produce a musical result, i.e., thecompleted triads and scales play in their entirety. Additionally, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention, in the electronicformat, double-clicking a die that as in play brings up a pop-updetailing the scales and/or triads that the die is currently a part of.

While the present invention has been described at some length and withsome particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, itis not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars orembodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed withreferences to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possibleinterpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore,to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention.

1. A method of playing a strategic dice game comprising: (a) providingfrom 21 individual dodecahedron dice, wherein the dice have musicalpitches on substantially all flat surfaces, (b) establishing an order ofserial play for a selected number of players by any convenient selectionmethod, and (c) each player then rolling in turn a single die, andplacing the die on a game board, such that the placement of the dieconstructs a scale or triad.
 2. The method of playing the dice game inaccordance with claim 1 wherein each die is marked on its surfaces withthe same musical pitches as each other die.
 3. The method of playing thedice game in accordance with claim 1 wherein the game is continued untilall of the 21 dice have been placed on the game board.
 4. The method ofplaying the dice game in accordance with claim 1 wherein the number ofplayers ranges from 1 to
 4. 5. The method of playing the dice game inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the players are grouped into two or moreteams.
 6. The method of playing the dice game in accordance with claim 1wherein a player's score is determined by the placement of the player'sdie on the game board.
 7. The method of playing the dice game inaccordance with claim 6 wherein the score may be multiplied uponplacement of the die on specially-marked locations of the game board. 8.The method of playing the dice game in accordance with claim 1, whereina player receives an additional play upon completion of a scale ortriad.
 9. The method of playing the dice game in accordance with claim1, wherein the game board is hexagonally-shaped.
 10. The method ofplaying the dice game in accordance with claim 1, wherein theconstructed scale or triad is played as a musical composition.
 11. Themethod of playing the dice game in accordance with claim 1, wherein thegame is played in an electronic format.
 12. The method of playing thedice game in accordance with claim 10, wherein the electronic format isa video game, computer game or a smart phone application.